Dish rack

ABSTRACT

A deformable and foldable dish rack system for drying items is disclosed. In one embodiment, a dish rack system includes a deformable dish rack and an underlying portion. The deformable dish rack may be of a flexible material that may be deformed from a first planar shape used when storing the dish rack system to a second non-planar shape that may support and maintain the position of items for drying. An underlying portion may underlie the dish rack and may be of a material that may absorb liquids from drying items positioned on the dish rack. The dish rack, once deformed into a second shape used for drying items, may be connected to the underlying portion such that the connection between the dish rack and the underlying portion maintains the deformation of the dish rack in the second shape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/067,076, filed on Oct. 22, 2014, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A kitchen area may be equipped with equipment and installations for foodpreparation, cooking, and related functions such as dishwashing andcleaning Kitchen areas vary greatly in terms of size and equipment. Acommercial restaurant kitchen may include a larger sized kitchen areawith heavy-duty equipment not found in smaller kitchens, such ascommercial ovens, walk-in refrigeration, and commercial dishwashers, andmay include a larger amounts of work surfaces and surface areas used forfood preparation, equipment placement, and equipment storage, such ascountertops and tables. Compact kitchen spaces and kitchenettes mayinclude a refrigerator, microwave, hotplate, and a limited amount ofcounter space for working and equipment placement, as well as a limitedamount storage space for storing food and equipment. Dish racks fordrying dishes and utensils are common in kitchen areas of all sizes. Inareas of limited space, a dish rack may occupy counter space preventingthe use of the counter space for other functions. Storage of a dish rackmay be difficult in areas of limited space.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a dish rack system is provided, the dish rack systemcomprising: a dish rack, the dish rack a planar member configured todeform from a planar first shape for storage to a non-planar secondshape for supporting and maintaining the drying position of an item, thedish rack comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; a longitudinalaxis; a transverse axis; a first long edge; a second long edge; and atleast one aperture extending through the top surface to the bottomsurface; and an underlying portion, the underlying portion a planarmember comprising: an upper surface configured to underlie the dishrack; a bottom surface configured to contact a work surface supportingthe dish rack system; and a connection hardware positioned on the uppersurface configured to secure the dish rack to the underlying portion;wherein a compressive force applied to the long edges and toward thelongitudinal axis deforms the dish rack from the first shape to thesecond shape such that the bottom surface of the dish rack does notcontact the upper surface of the underlying portion when deformed to thesecond shape so as to define an air gap between the bottom surface ofthe dish rack and the upper surface of the underlying portion; andwherein the connection hardware on the upper surface of the underlyingportion is configured to maintain the compressive force applied to thelong edges to maintain the second shape when the dish rack is connectedto the connection hardware on the underlying portion.

In another embodiment, a dish rack system for drying items and operableto deform from a first shape used for storage to a second shape used tosupport an item and maintain an item in a drying position is provided,the dish rack system comprising: a dish rack, the dish rack a planarmember comprised of a flexible material and configured to deform from aplanar first shape used for storage to a semicylindrical second shapeused to support and maintain the items in a drying position, the dishrack comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; a longitudinal axis; atransverse axis; a first long edge; a second long edge; a connectionstrip comprising a raised tab connector on the top surface, theconnection strip extending along each of the first long edge and thesecond long edge; and two or more apertures extending through the topsurface to the bottom surface; an underlying portion, the underlyingportion a planar member comprising: an upper surface configured tounderlie the dish rack; a bottom surface configured to contact a worksurface supporting the dish rack system; and a slot connector attachedto the upper surface of the underlying portion, the slot connectorconfigured to engage the raised tab connector to secure the dish rack tothe upper surface of the underlying portion; wherein the connectionstrip further comprises a flexible connection between the connectionstrip and the dish rack, the flexible connection configured to translatethe connection strip relative to the dish rack to position and engagethe raised tab connector to the slot connector; and wherein acompressive force applied to the long edges and toward the longitudinalaxis deforms the dish rack from the first shape to the second shape suchthat the bottom surface of the dish rack while in the second shape doesnot contact the upper surface of the underlying portion so as to definean air gap between the bottom surface of the dish rack and the uppersurface of the underlying portion; and wherein the raised tab connectorengaging the slot connector is configured to maintain the compressiveforce applied to the long edges of the dish rack to maintain the secondshape of the dish rack when the dish rack is connected to the underlyingportion; and wherein each of the two or more apertures comprises anaperture edge configured to contact an item inserted into the aperture,the two or more apertures configured to receive an insertion of an itemexternal to the top surface through the aperture and further into theair gap when the dish rack is in the second shape, and wherein the itemis further supported and maintained in the drying position relative tothe dish rack by a contact between the item and the aperture edge, andby a contact between the item and the upper surface of the underlyingportion; and wherein the two or more apertures are of a capsule shape,the two or more capsule-shaped apertures extending laterally in adirection parallel to the transverse axis and toward the long edges, thetwo or more capsule-shaped apertures configured to receive an item andmaintain the item in a drying position, each capsule-shaped apertureseparated from another by a rib, the rib extending laterally in thedirection parallel to the transverse axis from around the first longedge to around the second long edge, the rib configured to compensatefor a force generated by the contact between the item and the apertureedge; and wherein the underlying portion is comprised of an absorbentmaterial configured to absorb a liquid runoff contacting the underlyingportion.

In another embodiment, a dish rack system for drying items and operableto deform from a first shape used for storage to a second shape used tosupport an item and maintain an item in a drying position is provided,the dish rack system comprising: a dish rack system for drying items andoperable to deform from a first shape used for storage to a second shapeused to support an item and maintain an item in a drying position isprovided, the dish rack system comprising: a dish rack, the dish rack aplanar member comprised of a flexible material and configured to deformfrom a planar first shape used for storage to a semicylindrical secondshape used to support and maintain the items in a drying position, thedish rack comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; a longitudinalaxis; a transverse axis; a first long edge; a second long edge; aconnection strip comprising a raised tab connector on the top surface,the connection strip extending along each of the first long edge and thesecond long edge; and two or more apertures extending through the topsurface to the bottom surface; an underlying portion, the underlyingportion a planar member comprising: an upper surface configured tounderlie the dish rack; a bottom surface configured to contact a worksurface supporting the dish rack system; and a slot connector attachedto the upper surface of the underlying portion, the slot connectorconfigured to engage the raised tab connector to secure the dish rack tothe upper surface of the underlying portion; wherein the connectionstrip further comprises a flexible connection between the connectionstrip and the dish rack, the flexible connection configured to translatethe connection strip relative to the dish rack to position and engagethe raised tab connector to the slot connector; and wherein acompressive force applied to the long edges and toward the longitudinalaxis deforms the dish rack from the first shape to the second shape suchthat the bottom surface of the dish rack while in the second shape doesnot contact the upper surface of the underlying portion so as to definean air gap between the bottom surface of the dish rack and the uppersurface of the underlying portion; and wherein the raised tab connectorengaging the slot connector is configured to maintain the compressiveforce applied to the long edges of the dish rack to maintain the secondshape of the dish rack when the dish rack is connected to the underlyingportion; and wherein each of the two or more apertures comprises anaperture edge configured to contact an item inserted into the aperture,the two or more apertures configured to receive an insertion of an itemexternal to the top surface through the aperture and further into theair gap when the dish rack is in the second shape, and wherein the itemis further supported and maintained in the drying position relative tothe dish rack by a contact between the item and the aperture edge, andby a contact between the item and the upper surface of the underlyingportion; and wherein the two or more apertures are of a capsule shape,the two or more capsule-shaped apertures extending laterally in adirection parallel to the transverse axis and toward the long edges, thetwo or more capsule-shaped apertures configured to receive an item andmaintain the item in a drying position, each capsule-shaped apertureseparated from another by a rib, the rib extending laterally in thedirection parallel to the transverse axis from around the first longedge to around the second long edge, the rib configured to compensatefor a force generated by the contact between the item and the apertureedge; and wherein the underlying portion is comprised of an absorbentmaterial configured to absorb a liquid runoff contacting the underlyingportion; and wherein the dish rack further comprises a first half, asecond half, and a living hinge extending along the transverse axis andconfigured to fold the first half onto the second half when the dishrack is in the first shape for storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate various example systems, methods,and results, and are used merely to illustrate various exampleembodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of an example dish racksystem.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of an example dish racksystem.

FIG. 3 illustrates an elevated side view of an example dish rack system.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of an example dish racksystem.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an example dish rack.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top perspective view of an example underlyingportion.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective view of an example dish rack.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top perspective view of an example dish racksystem.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top perspective view of an example dish racksystem.

FIG. 10A illustrates a bottom perspective view of an example dish rack.

FIG. 10B illustrates a top perspective view of an example dish rack.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top perspective view of an example dish racksystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein include dish rack systems. The embodimentsof the dish rack systems described herein may include a dish rack thatmay be configured in a first shape relative to an underlying portion forstorage of the dish rack system, and may also be deformed from the firstshape to a second shape and connected to an underlying portion for useas a dish rack system to support an item and maintain the item in adrying position until the item has dried, i.e., for use as a dish rackfor air drying dishes. The embodiments of the dish rack systemsdescribed herein may be used in work areas that may not be able tocontinuously provide a dedicated space for a dish drying rack and storedwhen not in use.

With reference to FIG. 1, an example dish rack system 100 isillustrated. Dish rack system 100 may include a dish rack 102 configuredto deform from a planar first shape (as illustrated in FIG. 2) to anon-planar second shape, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, andattach to underlying portion 104 to form a dish rack system 100 forsupporting an item 106 and maintaining item 106 in a drying position.Attachment of dish rack 102 to underlying portion 104 may maintain aforce on dish rack 102 used to deform dish rack 102 from a planar firstshaped used for storage into a non-planar second shape so that dish rack102 may be used as a dish rack. For example, deformation of dish rack102 from a planar first shape to a non-planar second shape may vary thestructural arrangements of dish rack 102 varying the functionality ofdish rack 102 and allowing for use of dish rack 102 as a dish rack.Likewise, the deformation force applied to dish rack 102 to maintain thenon-planar second shape may be removed causing dish rack 102 to returnto a planar first shape, for example, to better store dish rack 102relative to underlying portion 104 and dish rack system 100 as a whole.

Dish rack 102 may include a top surface 108 and a bottom surface 110 andbe arranged such that bottom surface 110 is oriented toward uppersurface 112 on underlying portion 104. Underlying portion 104 mayinclude upper surface 112 to which dish rack 102 may be connected, andbottom surface 114 in contact with a work surface 116, for example, atable top 116, used to support dish rack system 100.

Underlying portion 104 may be used to prevent and limit a liquid runoff(not shown) on item 106 from contacting a work surface 116. For example,a user of dish rack system 100 may desire to limit contact of rinsewater flowing off of plate 106 with work surface 116 by using underlyingportion 104 to prevent or limit liquid runoff such as rinse water fromcontacting work surface 116. Underlying portion 104 may be a foldableabsorbent pad.

With reference to FIG. 2, dish rack system 100 with dish rack 102 in aplanar first shape is illustrated. Dish rack 102 with a planar firstshape may be used to better store dish rack system 100 by utilizing aplanar first shape of dish rack 102 to reduce the thickness of dish rack102. For example, a decrease in a thickness of dish rack 102 may allowdish rack system 100 to be stored in storage spaces previouslyunavailable because the shape and thickness of dish rack 102 may havepreviously prevented storage of dish rack system 100 in these storageareas. As configured in a planar first shape, dish rack 102 may alsoinclude a longitudinal axis 118, a transverse axis 120, a first longedge 122, a second long edge 124, end edges 126, a connection strip 128extending in the direction of long edges 122 and 124, parallel tolongitudinal axis 118 and connected to dish rack 102 by a hingedconnection 130. Top surface 108 of connection strip 128 may include aconnection hardware 132, such as a raised tab connector 132 to interfacewith, and engage connection hardware 134 on upper surface 112 ofunderlying portion 104 to connect dish rack 102 to underlying portion104 once dish rack 102 is deformed from a planar first shape to anon-planar second shape. The connection of dish rack 102 to underlyingportion 104 via connection hardwares 132 and 134 may maintain thecompressive force acting on dish rack 102 causing the deformation, suchthat the deformation may be maintained when dish rack 102 is attached tounderlying portion 104.

Dish rack 102 may include apertures with different shapes such aselliptical-shaped aperture 136, and capsule-shaped aperture 138.Different aperture shapes may be used for items 106 with differentgeometries and shapes to best support and maintain a position of item106 within dish rack 102. For example, plate 106 as illustrated in FIG.1, may be better suited for positioning within capsule-shaped aperture138 to maintain plate 106 in an upright drying position to improve theair drying of plate 106 by increasing an effect that gravity may play onrinse water remaining on the surfaces of plate 106 as plate 106 ispositioned in dish rack 102 to dry.

With reference to FIG. 3, an example dish rack system 100 illustratingadditional translation of underlying portion 104 to reduce the size ofdish rack system 100 for storage is provided. Underlying portion 104 mayinclude a first half 140 and a second half 142 connected to each otherto form underlying portion 104 as a whole via fold 144. An upper surface112 of first half 140 may be folded via fold 144 onto an upper surface112 of second half 142 to reduce an area of underlying portion 104 forstorage. Dish rack 102 may be positioned between first half 140 andsecond half 142, when first half 140 is folded onto second half 142,when storing a folded dish rack system 100. As described above, dishrack 102 may be caused to return to a planar first shape for storagepurposes. Returning dish rack 102 to a first planar shape for storagemay maximize storage capabilities of dish rack system 100 by alsoreducing an overall thickness 146 of folded dish rack system 100.

With reference to FIG. 4, and example dish rack system 100 where dishrack 102 is deformed to the second shape and secured to connectionhardware 134 on an upper surface 112 of underlying portion 104 isillustrated. Dish rack 102 may be deformed from a planar first shape toa non-planar second shape by applying compressive force to long edges122 and 124.

As dish rack 102 is deformed into a non-planar second shape an air gap148 may be created as the long edges 122 and 124 are brought toward oneanother as a result of the compressive force applied, decreasing thewidth 150 between long edges 122 and 124, and increasing the height ofair gap 148 as measured from bottom surface 110 of dish rack 102relative to upper surface 112 of underlying portion 104.

So that dish rack 102 may be easily deformed to produce asemicylindrical shape with an arch-shaped cross-section 152, dish rack102 may be manufactured from a flexible material such as plastic, thatmay readily deform when a compressive force is applied to deform dishrack from a planar first shape to a non-planar second shape. Likewise, adish rack 102 made of a flexible material may return to a planar firstshape when the compressive force acting on long edges 122 and 124 isremoved. In one embodiment, dish rack 102 is made of a High-densitypolyethylene (HDPE) material. A thickness of dish rack 102 may be verythin based on material selection, and based on the geometry and shape towhich dish rack 102 may be deformed, for example, a semicylindricalsecond shape with an arched-shaped cross-section 152. Dish rack 102utilizing an arch-shaped cross-section and secured to a surface, forexample, upper surface 112 of underlying portion 104, may be used toincrease a rigidity of a structure formed from flexible materials, suchas those formed from metals and plastics. Dish rack 102 may bemanufactured to include apertures 136 and 138 through a process such asinjection molding, or dish rack 102 may be an extruded sheet materialwhere apertures 136 and 138 may be removed from dish rack 102 in adesired shape, for example, through an automated cutting process on aCNC machine.

As dish rack 102 is deformed to a non-planar second shape,capsule-shaped aperture 138 may assume new geometries and dimensions,notably caused by the creation of the height of airgap 148, to createaperture 138 having the height of airgap 148 to support, for example,flat shaped dinnerware 106 such as a plate. Both apertures 136 and 138may include an aperture edge 154 which may contact item 106 to supportand maintain a drying position of item 106 when item 106 is insertedinto apertures 136 and 138 and further into air gap 148. Items 106 mayalso contact upper surface 112 of underlying portion 104 such that uppersurface also provides support of item 106. A surface treatment (notshown), for example, a ribbing added to a material comprising uppersurface 112, may be used to also limit motion of item 106 relative toupper surface 112. The surface treatment may contact item 106, forexample the bumps and ridges of a ribbing, to limit movement of item 106contacting the surface treatment.

Ribs 156 between capsule-shaped apertures 138 may extend laterally fromabout the long edge 122 to long edge 124 to provide extra rigidity todish rack 102 and to counteract forces imparted by items 106 contactingaperture edge 154 when item 106 is positioned in aperture 138. Ribs 156may be used to increase an overall rigidity of dish rack 102 while in adeformed, non-planar second shape, such that dish rack 102 may be madefrom a thin, flexible material such as plastic. A thickness of dish rack102 made of plastic may be about 1 mm (i.e. about 0.04 inches) such thatan underlying portion 104 utilizing a same or similar plastic material,to form dish rack system 100 may have a storage thickness as little as0.125 inches. Use of different materials and thicknesses for dish rack102 and underlying portion 104 may result in a folded dish rack system100 having a storage thickness of 0.75 inches. Underlying portion 104may utilize a material that readily absorbs a liquid such as water, forexample, a cotton terrycloth, a synthetic microfiber, and a leatherchamois (“shammy”). Underlying portion 104 may be manufactured of aplastic material that may resist and absorption of a liquid. Underlyingportion 104 may be comprised of different layers of materials withvarying levels of absorption. For example, upper surface directlyunderlying dish rack 102 may be of a material that readily absorbs aliquid, while bottom surface 114 may be of a liquid impermeable materialthat may not readily absorb a liquid to prevent a liquid from passingthrough bottom layer 114 and contacting support surface 116.

With references to FIGS. 5-7, example connection hardwares 132 and 134for securing dish rack 102 to underlying portion 104 are illustrated.Connection hardware 132 on connection strip 128 may be a raised tabconnector 132 with a vertical offset portion 158 and a tab portion 160extending from the vertical offset portion. With reference to FIG. 2showing connection strip 128 and raised tab connector 132, tab portion160 may extend toward longitudinal axis 118 when raised tab connection132 is oriented relative to top surface 108 of dish rack 102. Withreference again to FIGS. 5 and 7, as connection strip 128 may fold andtransform about living hinge 130, an orientation of raised tab connector132 may vary relative to the orientation of connection strip 128, suchthat tab portion 160 may extend away from the longitudinal axis of dishrack 102 when folded for engagement to a slot connector 134. Slotconnector 134 may be secured to upper surface 112 of underlying portion104 at short edges 161. Raised tab connector 132 may engage slotconnector 134 by insertion into slot connector 134 at a proximal edge162 to connect dish rack 102 to underlying portion 104.

With reference to FIG. 8, an example embodiment of dish rack system 200is illustrated. Unlike dish rack 102 of dish rack system 100 describedabove, dish rack 202 of dish rack system 200 may be secured to underlingportion 204 without connection hardware on dish rack 202. Underlyingportion 204 may have pockets 266 attached to an upper surface 212.Corners 264 of dish rack 202 may be connected into pockets 266 oncedeformed to secure dish rack 202 to underlying portion 204.

With references to FIGS. 9-11 example embodiments of dish rack system300 are illustrated. Dish rack system 300 may be similar to dish racksystem 100, as described above, but may include a foldable dish rack 302including a first half 368, a second half 370, and a living hinge 372,such that one half of dish rack 302 may be folded onto the other attransverse axis 320 when dish rack 302 is in a first shape for storageto further reduce a size of dish rack 302 for storage. When deformedfrom a planar first shape for storage to a non-planar second shape, dishrack 302 may be secured to underlying portion 304 via a hardwareconnection on dish rack 302 by engaging a hardware connection (notshown) on underlying portion 304, for example, via a raised tabconnector 332, similar in operation to raised tab connector 132, asdescribed above.

Unless specifically stated to the contrary, the numerical parameters setforth in the specification, including the attached claims, areapproximations that may vary depending on the desired properties soughtto be obtained according to the exemplary embodiments. At the veryleast, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine ofequivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter shouldat least be construed in light of the number of reported significantdigits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspossible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certainerrors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in theirrespective testing measurements.

Furthermore, while the systems, methods, and apparatuses have beenillustrated by describing example embodiments, and while the exampleembodiments have been described and illustrated in considerable detail,it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict, or in any waylimit, the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, ofcourse, not possible to describe every conceivable combination ofcomponents or methodologies for purposes of describing the systems,methods, and apparatuses. With the benefit of this application,additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, isnot limited to the specific details and illustrative example andexemplary embodiments shown and described. Accordingly, departures maybe made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe general inventive concept. Thus, this application is intended toembrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within thescope of the appended claims. The preceding description is not meant tolimit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention isto be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

As used in the specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural. To the extent that the term“includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or theclaims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term“comprising,” as that term is interpreted when employed as atransitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term“or” is employed in the claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “Aor B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B, butnot both,” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed.Similarly, when the applicants intend to indicate “one and only one” ofA, B, or C, the applicants will employ the phrase “one and only one.”Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not theexclusive use. See Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage624 (2d. Ed. 1995). Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into”are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended toadditionally mean “on” or “onto.” To the extent that the term“selectively” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intendedto refer to a condition of a component wherein a user of the apparatusmay activate or deactivate the feature or function of the component asis necessary or desired in use of the apparatus. To the extent that theterm “operatively connected” is used in the specification or the claims,it is intended to mean that the identified components are connected in away to perform a designated function. Finally, where the term “about” isused in conjunction with a number, it is intended to include ±10% of thenumber. In other words, “about 10” may mean from 9 to 11.

What is claimed:
 1. A dish rack system comprising: a dish rack, the dishrack a planar member configured to deform from a planar first shape forstorage to a non-planar second shape for supporting and maintain thedrying position of item, the dish rack comprising: a top surface; abottom surface; a longitudinal axis; a transverse axis; a first longedge; a second long edge; and at least one aperture extending throughthe top surface to the bottom surface; and an underlying portion, theunderlying portion a planar member comprising: an upper surfaceconfigured to underlie the dish rack; a bottom surface configured tocontact a work surface supporting the dish rack system; and a connectionhardware positioned on the upper surface configured to secure the dishrack to the underlying portion; wherein a compressive force applied tothe long edges and toward the longitudinal axis deforms the dish rackfrom the first shape to the second shape such that the bottom surface ofthe dish rack does not contact the upper surface of the underlyingportion when deformed to the second shape so as to define an air gapbetween the bottom surface of the dish rack and the upper surface of theunderlying portion; and wherein the connection hardware on the on theupper surface of the underlying portion is configured to maintain thecompressive force applied to the long edges to maintain the second shapewhen the dish rack is connected to the connection hardware on theunderlying portion.
 2. The dish rack system of claim 1, wherein the dishrack is comprised of a flexible material configured to flex to deformthe dish rack from the first shape to the second shape when thecompressive force is applied to the long edges, and wherein the flexiblematerial is configured to return the dish rack from the second shape tothe first shape when the compressive force is removed from the longedges.
 3. The dish rack system of claim 1, wherein the dish rack furthercomprises a connection strip extending longitudinally along the firstlong edge and the second long edge, the connection strip comprising aconnection hardware on the top surface, and a hinged connection toconnect the connection strip to the dish rack, wherein the connectionhardware on the connection strip is configured to engage with theconnection hardware on the upper surface of the underlying portion, andwherein the hinged connection is configured to translate the connectionstrip relative to the dish rack to position and engage the connectionhardware on the connection strip to the connection hardware on the uppersurface of the underlying portion.
 4. The dish rack system of claim 3,wherein the hinged connection is a living hinge.
 5. The dish rack systemof claim 3, wherein the connection hardware on the connection stripcomprises a raised tab connector, the raised tab connector comprising avertical portion to offset a tab portion from the top surface of thedish rack, the tab portion extending normal to the vertical portion andin a direction toward the longitudinal axis, and wherein the connectionhardware on the upper surface of the underlying portion comprises a slotconnector configured to engage the raised tab connector, the loopconnector comprising a material with a distal edge, a proximal edge, andtwo short edges, the material secured to the upper surface of theunderlying portion at the two short edges, and wherein the raised tabconnector is configured to be inserted into the loop at the proximaledge.
 6. The dish rack system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneaperture further comprises an aperture edge, and wherein the at leastone aperture is configured to receive an insertion of an item externalto the top surface, through the aperture, and further into the air gap,and wherein the item is further supported and maintained in a dryingposition relative to the dish rack by a first contact between the itemand the aperture edge, and by a second contact between the item and theupper surface of the underlying portion.
 7. The dish rack system ofclaim 6, wherein the at least one aperture is of an elliptical shape,the at least one elliptical-shaped aperture configured to receive theitem and maintain the drying position of the item, wherein the item is autensil.
 8. The dish rack system of claim 6, wherein the at least oneaperture comprises two or more apertures of a capsule shape, the two ormore capsule-shaped apertures extending laterally in a directionparallel to the transverse axis and toward the long edges, wherein thetwo or more capsule-shaped apertures are configured to receive the itemand maintain the drying position of the item, wherein the item is a flatdishware.
 9. The dish rack system of claim 8, wherein the two or morecapsule-shaped apertures are separated from another capsule-shapedaperture by a rib, the rib extending laterally in the direction parallelto the transverse axis from around the first long edge to around thesecond long edge, the rib configured to compensate for a force generatedby the contact between the flat dishware and the aperture edge tomaintain a structural integrity of the dish rack.
 10. The dish racksystem of claim 6, wherein the upper surface of the underlying portionfurther comprises a surface treatment configured to limit a movement ofthe item in a direction substantially parallel relative to the uppersurface by a third contact between the item and the surface treatment.11. The dish rack system of claim 1, wherein the first shape is deformedinto a semicylinder-shaped second shape, the semicylinder-shaped secondshape comprising an arch-shaped cross-section.
 12. The dish rack systemof claim 1, wherein the planar member of the underlying portion is of amaterial configured to resist an absorption of a liquid runoff on theupper surface of the underlying portion.
 13. The dish rack system ofclaim 1, wherein the planar member of the underlying portion is of afabric material configured to absorb a liquid runoff.
 14. The dish racksystem of claim 1, wherein the planar member of the underlying portionis comprised of one or more materials, each of the one or more materialscomprising a different level of absorption.
 15. The dish rack system ofclaim 1, wherein the planar member of the underlying portion furthercomprises a first half and a second half, the first half joined to thesecond half by a fold, and wherein the connection hardware is positionedon only one of the halves such that the dish rack overlies one of thehalves when connected to the connection hardware; and wherein one halfis configured to fold about the fold and onto the other half when thedish rack is in the first shape for storage, such that the dish rack inthe first shape is configured to be positioned between the uppersurfaces of the two halves for storage.
 16. The dish rack system ofclaim 15, wherein a combined thickness of the dish rack in the firstshape for storage and positioned between the two halves is in the rangeof about ⅛ of an inch (0.125″) to about ¾ of an inch (0.750″).
 17. Thedish rack system of claim 1, wherein the dish rack further comprises: afirst half, a second half, and a hinged attachment extending along thetransverse axis and configured to fold the first half onto the secondhalf when the dish rack is in the first shape for storage.
 18. The dishrack system of claim 17, wherein the hinged attachment is a livinghinge.
 19. A dish rack system for drying items and operable to deformfrom a first shape used for storage to a second shape used to support anitem and maintain an item in a drying position, the dish rack systemcomprising: a dish rack, the dish rack a planar member comprised of aflexible material and configured to deform from a planar first shapeused for storage to a semicylindrical second shape used to support andmaintain the items in a drying position, the dish rack comprising: a topsurface; a bottom surface; a longitudinal axis; a transverse axis; afirst long edge; a second long edge; a connection strip comprising araised tab connector on the top surface, the connection strip extendingalong each of the first long edge and the second long edge; and two ormore apertures extending through the top surface to the bottom surface;an underlying portion, the underlying portion a planar membercomprising: an upper surface configured to underlie the dish rack; abottom surface configured to contact a work surface supporting the dishrack system; and a slot connector attached to the upper surface of theunderlying portion, the slot connector configured to engage the raisedtab connector to secure the dish rack to the upper surface of theunderlying portion; wherein the connection strip further comprises aflexible connection between the connection strip and the dish rack, theflexible connection configured to translate the connection striprelative to the dish rack to position and engage the raised tabconnector to the slot connector; and wherein a compressive force appliedto the long edges and toward the longitudinal axis deforms the dish rackfrom the first shape to the second shape such that the bottom surface ofthe dish rack while in the second shape does not contact the uppersurface of the underlying portion so as to define an air gap between thebottom surface of the dish rack and the upper surface of the underlyingportion; and wherein the raised tab connector engaging the slotconnector is configured to maintain the compressive force applied to thelong edges of the dish rack to maintain the second shape of the dishrack when the dish rack is connected to the underlying portion; andwherein each of the two or more apertures comprises an aperture edgeconfigured to contact an item inserted into the aperture, the two ormore apertures configured to receive an insertion of an item external tothe top surface through the aperture and further into the air gap whenthe dish rack is in the second shape, and wherein the item is furthersupported and maintained in the drying position relative to the dishrack by a contact between the item and the aperture edge, and by acontact between the item and the upper surface of the underlyingportion; and wherein the two or more apertures are of a capsule shape,the two or more capsule-shaped apertures extending laterally in adirection parallel to the transverse axis and toward the long edges, thetwo or more capsule-shaped apertures configured to receive an item andmaintain the item in a drying position, each capsuled-shaped apertureseparated from another by a rib, the rib extending laterally in thedirection parallel to the transverse axis from around the first longedge to around the second long edge, the rib configured to compensatefor a force generated by the contact between the item and the apertureedge; and wherein the underlying portion is comprised of an absorbentmaterial configured to absorb a liquid runoff contacting the underlyingportion.
 20. A dish rack system for drying items and operable to deformfrom a first shape used for storage to a second shape used to support anitem and maintain an item in a drying position, the dish rack systemcomprising: a dish rack, the dish rack a planar member comprised of aflexible material and configured to deform from a planar first shapeused for storage to a semicylindrical second shape used to support andmaintain the items in a drying position, the dish rack comprising: a topsurface; a bottom surface; a longitudinal axis; a transverse axis; afirst long edge; a second long edge; a connection strip comprising araised tab connector on the top surface, the connection strip extendingalong each of the first long edge and the second long edge; and two ormore apertures extending through the top surface to the bottom surface;an underlying portion, the underlying portion a planar membercomprising: an upper surface configured to underlie the dish rack; abottom surface configured to contact a work surface supporting the dishrack system; and a slot connector attached to the upper surface of theunderlying portion, the slot connector configured to engage the raisedtab connector to secure the dish rack to the upper surface of theunderlying portion; wherein the connection strip further comprises aflexible connection between the connection strip and the dish rack, theflexible connection configured to translate the connection striprelative to the dish rack to position and engage the raised tabconnector to the slot connector; and wherein a compressive force appliedto the long edges and toward the longitudinal axis deforms the dish rackfrom the first shape to the second shape such that the bottom surface ofthe dish rack while in the second shape does not contact the uppersurface of the underlying portion so as to define an air gap between thebottom surface of the dish rack and the upper surface of the underlyingportion; and wherein the raised tab connector engaging the slotconnector is configured to maintain the compressive force applied to thelong edges of the dish rack to maintain the second shape of the dishrack when the dish rack is connected to the underlying portion; andwherein each of the two or more apertures comprises an aperture edgeconfigured to contact an item inserted into the aperture, the two ormore apertures configured to receive an insertion of an item external tothe top surface through the aperture and further into the air gap whenthe dish rack is in the second shape, and wherein the item is furthersupported and maintained in the drying position relative to the dishrack by a contact between the item and the aperture edge, and by acontact between the item and the upper surface of the underlyingportion; and wherein the two or more apertures are of a capsule shape,the two or more capsule-shaped apertures extending laterally in adirection parallel to the transverse axis and toward the long edges, thetwo or more capsule-shaped apertures configured to receive an item andmaintain the item in a drying position, each capsuled-shaped apertureseparated from another by a rib, the rib extending laterally in thedirection parallel to the transverse axis from around the first longedge to around the second long edge, the rib configured to compensatefor a force generated by the contact between the item and the apertureedge; and wherein the underlying portion is comprised of an absorbentmaterial configured to absorb a liquid runoff contacting the underlyingportion; and wherein the dish rack further comprises a first half, asecond half, and a living hinge extending along the transverse axis andconfigured to fold the first half onto the second half when the dishrack is in the first shape for storage.